During dinner, I heard something interesting from Luffy's crew. They said they ran into Alvida in Logue Town. But since I have the [Slip-Slip Fruit], she's apparently still stuck in her overweight form. And just like in the original story, she ended up joining Buggy's pirate crew.
Honestly, I never liked Alvida. I've seen several parody works where she becomes a crewmate. I get why to some extent β if she eats the fruit, she turns into a real beauty. But her personality is trash to begin with, and her combat ability isn't that high either. That's why I didn't hesitate to take the Devil Fruit the moment I found it.
'That fruit would be wasted on Alvida.'
The next day, Zoro was training with the dojo master, Sanji was making desserts for the beautiful staff while chatting with them, and Usopp was at the shooting range test-firing a revolver and a Winchester that only existed on the Merchant's Island. Meanwhile, Nami and Luffy were having a blast with the orphanage kids at the small water park I built.
In the meantime, I went up to Sky Island and, together with Gan Fall and the Shandian chief, revised the absurd laws Enel had put in place. He made so many ridiculous rules that it took a while. I spent the whole day fixing laws and returned to the Merchant's Island that evening.
"Where have you been wandering off to?"
Nico Chunja asked, since I'd left without a word.
"The future of our island. You'll find out soon enough."
"You're talking nonsense again."
"More importantly, anything happen today?"
"Usopp, was it? He said he liked the Winchester and asked for one. Other than that, nothing special."
If I gave Usopp a Winchester, his weapon would be similar to Yasopp's, but it probably didn't matter. He likely wanted it for long range because of the Winchester's precision.
"I see. Hmm... Got it. Have you eaten?"
"I couldn't eat because I had no word from my boss about where he was or what he was doing."
"I'll be sure to tell you next time. I'll make something delicious, so let's go to the dining hall."
"Hehe~ I'm looking forward to it."
We went down to the dining hall together. I made sure to cook something tasty for Nico Chunja with extra care. Sanji was still busy making desserts for the beautiful staff.
"Oh~ It's delicious."
"Haha~ Right? I put some effort into it."
"Thanks."
"My secretary was starving because of me. I have to take care of you."
As I ate with Nico Chunja and prepared dessert nicely too, Luffy and Nami came into the dining hall.
"Bwahahaha, today was fun."
Luffy was still full of energy, but Nami looked like she was half dead.
"Ugh... I didn't know kids had this much stamina."
Of course. Hina trained them in physical combat every day, so their stamina had to be good. I called over Sanji, who was making desserts for the beautiful staff, and we prepared a meal together. As thanks for playing with the kids, I decided to make it a feast. While we were cooking, Zoro and Usopp also came into the dining hall.
"Wow~ I'm starving! That gun is so accurate!"
"Hey merchant! Can I take one of the swords from the dojo?"
On the Merchant's Island, there were two kinds of swords. One was the set of 100 swords I made before, and the other was a set of 20 alloy swords I crafted with Nano's help, using optimal ratios of metals found in the One Piece world. I gave 10 of those to the dojo.
"Which sword are you talking about?"
"The... alloy sword, was it? The one with a faint blue aura. The master said I needed your permission."
"Then play with the kids tomorrow instead of Nami. Do that and I'll give you one."
"Hmm... Got it. I'll do it."
"And Usopp!"
"Yes!"
"You play with the kids too. If you want to take a gun."
"Ahaha, got it."
I fed Luffy's crew and the next day arrived. Nami was still exhausted and kept sleeping, so Zoro, Usopp, and Luffy went to play with the kids this time. By evening, Usopp came back completely wiped out.
"Hahaha, did you have fun playing?"
"Uwaah~ I'm dying... What's with those kids' stamina..."
"Good for stamina training."
I pulled out an alloy sword from my inventory and a Winchester with an extended barrel for better range and accuracy, fitted with a 10x scope, and gave them to Zoro and Usopp.
"Here. You worked hard."
"Oh~ Thanks!"
We spent the day laughing and talking like that, and the next day Luffy's crew said they were leaving, so I loaded food and supplies onto the Going Merry. Then Luffy brought over a chubby girl who used a spear and was from the orphanage, now in the island guard. Her name was 'Elodie'.
"I decided to make this girl my crewmate!"
"Luffy, you brat! You're just announcing it?"
"B-boss... I want to follow Luffy too. P-please allow it."
Elodie was a timid girl who stuttered a bit because she was trying to speak carefully. She had no talent for swordsmanship but showed talent with spears, so I had taught her spear techniques from Nano's database, which is why I remembered her name.
"Seriously... Both brothers are taking my precious staff. Elodie, Luffy is a pirate. It could be very dangerous. Are you still going to follow him?"
"Yes, I've thought about it a lot. I want to see the wide world too."
"Is that so? Sigh... Can't be helped. Wait a moment."
I went to my room for a bit and pulled the [Slip-Slip Fruit] from my inventory, along with a spear that had a Heat Dial used by a Sky Island priest. Using [Matter Manipulation], I rebuilt the spear with alloy, changed the design so it was easy and beautiful for Elodie to use, and handed it to her.
"This is a 'Devil Fruit'. Eat it right now."
"Y-yes."
It must taste awful, but she ate the fruit without a word. Then Elodie's chubby body became slim and she was reborn as a considerable beauty.
"M-my body!?"
Sliip...
Elodie's clothes didn't fit anymore and started sliding off her body. Nico Chunja shouted in a hurry.
"All men, turn around!"
Luffy and I turned around. After a while, Nico Chunja sighed and said.
"Phew... It's okay now."
When I turned back, Nico Chunja had temporarily tied up Elodie's oversized clothes so they looked decent.
"Oh~ Nice work."
Nico Chunja glared at me and said.
"You should have told me it was that kind of Devil Fruit. Don't tell me you planned this?"
I apologized quickly and changed the subject. Moving on fast was best in moments like this.
"Sorry, I didn't think of it. I absolutely didn't plan it. And about this spear..."
I explained how to use the spear and gave a demonstration. The 'Flame Spear' could store fire and release flames from the tip during an attack.
Whoosh~!
"Wow~ Cool!"
Somehow Luffy was more excited than anyone when I demonstrated.
"Th-thank you, boss."
"You just ate the Devil Fruit, so you'll need to practice a lot."
"Got it."
"And if it gets too hard, contact me. You can come back to the Merchant's Island anytime."
"Y-yes, I understand."
I loaded clothes that would fit Elodie onto the Going Merry and gave her a Transponder Snail too. I raised her, so honestly I was worried. Following Luffy was basically opening the gates of hell. We waited in front of the Going Merry, and the other crewmates started boarding with their luggage. Sanji lost his mind when he saw Elodie.
"Elodie-san~ I'll make you lots of delicious food~"
Hina and the orphanage kids came to the harbor too. They seemed to have come to see them off because they were grateful for playing together.
"Then, take care! Stay healthy, Elodie."
The kids waved at Luffy's crew too.
"Bye, brothers~" "Come again~"
On the Going Merry, Luffy's crew waved back, and I could see Elodie crying as she said goodbye.
"Boss, thank you for everything until now."
I don't have kids yet, but is this what it feels like to send off a daughter? No, wait, if she were my real daughter, I'd never let her join Luffy's crew. That place is hell.
Hina said, watching the Going Merry leave.
"Hina feels sad. They were good guys, but they insist on staying pirates..."
"The World Government might be the one making pirates right now. Just look at what the Celestial Dragons do."
As soon as the Celestial Dragons were mentioned, Hina agreed immediately.
"Maybe. I was assigned somewhere far from the Celestial Dragons thanks to my superiors' consideration. I didn't know why at first, but I understood later. How trashy the Celestial Dragons are."
Hina told me an anecdote about the Marines and the Celestial Dragons.
"Once, a female Marine was assigned to guard a Celestial Dragon, and she was abused so badly that her body and mind broke, and she had to retire from the Marines. After that incident, I heard they started intentionally keeping female Marines away from Celestial Dragon duty and posting them far away."
"The Marines put up with that? That's impressive."
"Well, the Marines run on Celestial Dragon money."
"That money isn't given by the Celestial Dragons, it comes from each kingdom. Marines should be protecting decent citizens, not Celestial Dragons."
"Hina admits, you're right. But there's nothing we can do. That's reality. And with sea trash pirates running wild, there's even less choice."
I thought about telling Hina what I was planning, but it didn't feel like the right time yet, so I stayed quiet. Hina led the kids back to the orphanage.
A few days later, I got a call from the Whitebeard Pirates for the first time in a while. I managed the Transponder Snail for pirate contacts separately.
"Long time no see, Taejin."
"Satchi-san, it's been a while."
"It's nothing else, we're running out of booze."
"I see. Give me your rough location."
"So, we're around here..."
I told Nico Chunja I was going out for a delivery and teleported to a nearby island where the Moby Dick was, then drove the Thalaria vehicle over and parked beside the Moby Dick. The Whitebeard crew waved and greeted me again. They're such a warm-hearted pirate crew.
"Taejin, long time no see, yoi."
"Taejin, good to see you~"
I exchanged greetings with the Whitebeard crew.
Ace was there too, just like in the original story. I was surprised when he showed up before and was with the Whitebeard Pirates, because it matched the original, but after hearing what happened, the only change was that Ace beat Yamato and defeated Jinbe without much trouble. Hearing that, I wondered if it was really Ace.
"Oh right, Luffy came to the Merchant's Island."
"Oh~ Really? How's that guy doing?"
"Yeah, he made some friends too. He should be entering the Grand Line about now."
"Hahaha, that's my little brother for you."
The staff member who followed Ace said hi, so I greeted him warmly too. I met Satchi and delivered the supplies.
"As expected, the stuff Taejin sells is in great condition."
"Speaking of which, I don't see Teach. Where did he go?"
"Teach retired from pirate life. Said he wants to live quietly. Father allowed it."
"I see. Too bad I couldn't say goodbye."
"Indeed."
He's not the type to do that, so I don't know what he's scheming. Satchi, Ace, the staff member, and I talked about what's been happening and had a simple drink before I returned to the Merchant's Island. Nico Chunja showed me a newspaper and said.
"Boss, Luffy got a bounty. 10 million Berries. Looks like these guys caused trouble in Logue Town before coming to our island."
"Now he's a real pirate."
"Right."
"Let's just wish him luck."